Ultras White Knights denies political affiliations

Protesters were demanding that club chairman Mahmoud Abbas be removed, but the protests turned violent when they attempted to storm the club.(Photo by Mohamed Omar)

Ultras White Knights denied on Sunday having any particular political affiliations, stressing that their only allegiance is to Zamalek Club.

In a statement, the group said its members represent “the entire Egyptian people, with some members who are supportive of the revolution and others who are against it. The membership of many of our members in the Islamist current does not trouble us.”

It added that it is proud of all its members, regardless of their political affiliations. “We are not an organisation with a specific ideology,” the group said.

A high ranking member of the group said the statement comes to clarify and respond to recent claims that the group belongs to “one political current”, stressing that “politics does not matter. The most important thing is Zamalek [Club].”

The group said in its statement that since its foundation, Zamalek Club has been its only allegiance and that it will always remain the only justification for the group’s existence.

“We were fought by repressive regimes just because we dreamt about living,” the group said in its statement, adding that the group’s “battle for survival… became our motivation for chanting for freedom.”

The group also said that forces of oppression are now taking cover in the revolution, but Ultras White Knights have “never believed freedom is material.” It added that bloodshed would not deter them and that it would never see the “executioner as a guardian,” in reference to security forces.

In September, 18-year-old group member Amr Hussein was killed in clashes outside Zamalek Club between the group’s protesters and police and the club’s security personnel. Protesters were demanding that club chairman Mahmoud Abbas be removed, but the protests turned violent when they attempted to storm the club.

The group vowed to avenge his death and marched last week, demanding retribution for Hussein in Cairo, Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr Al-Sheikh and other governorates, describing the marches as “the first step to demand retribution” for their fallen club member.